Flower:

Flowers arise in dense cylindrical spikes that elongate throughout the growing season. Individual flowers appear nearly rectangular in shape from two sharply pointed, triangular, bract-like sepals that flank two sides of the tiny central flower column; these are stacked upon one another as new flowers are added on top. Color can be from white/greenish-white to hot pink and the spike can be an inch wide and several inches tall. A plant usually has multiple clusters at the end of branching stems.

Leaves and stem:

The toothless, hairless leaves are broadly elongated, bluntly narrowing to a tiny point, up to 1½ inches long and typically set in whorls of four directly below flower clusters - appearing to be a cross. Stems are square or slightly winged, hairless, stiff and profusely branched, often being held erect by adjoining grasses, sedges and other forbs as the growing season progresses.

Fruit:

Fruit is an oblong 2-seeded capsule.

Notes:

Minnesota populations are severly restricted to sedge meadows of the Anoka sandplains. Cross-leaved Milkwort is on the Minnesota Endangered Species list due to loss of habitat to development and encroaching non-native invasive species threatening the dwindling populations that remain.